Everyone seems content to complain about the voting, so why not share who we voted for? I usually vote once around the beginning of June and then again closer to the All-Star game. This is my ballot today:
AL
Catcher - Joe Mauer
First Base - Jim Thome (its a joke that you have to write him in)
Second Base - Mark Loretta (tough pick over Iguchi and Castillo)
Third Base - Troy Glaus (again a tough pick over ARod, Chavez, and Lowell)
Shortstop - Miguel Tejada (another tough one over Jeter)
Outfield 1 - Manny Ramirez
Outfield 2 - Vernon Wells
Outfield 3 - Alex Rios
NL
Catcher - Brian McCann
First Base - Albert Pujols
Second Base - Jose Castillo (Utley is right there)
Third Base - Miguel Cabrera
Shortstop - Edgar Renteria
Outfield 1 - Jason Bay
Outfield 2 - Andruw Jones
Outfield 3 - Alfonso Soriano
There are really some good races brewing this year. Third Base and Second in the AL have a bunch of potential candidates. I went with Glaus for third because of the homeruns and Loretta for the combination of OBP and glove at second. First base would be close if Thome wasn't launching one every single game. The outfield could become crowded as well with Guerrero and fan-favorites like Ichiro out there. Jeter will likely get short over Tejada who I feel should be this year's starter, but at least Jeter is having a great season (unlike in year's past where it was a joke he was starting over Tejada or someone else).
In the NL its not quite as tight. I'd love to vote for Nomar at first but he's competing with Pujols who should get more votes than anyone else. The outfield is really crowded too and I went with Jones over a bunch of other guys because his average is good and he has a ton of RBI's along with a great glove. Second base is really close right now but I love Castillo's defense and his bat has been equally as impressive so far so I went with him.
One guy I would love to see make it but probably won't is Kevin Youkilis. He's been an OBP machine and has had some great at-bats all season long while playing gold glove calibre defense at first base to start the season. Unfortunately, he is primarily a first basemen and does not have the power numbers to compete with Thome, Ortiz, Hafner, and Konerko so his chances of making the All-Star squad are slim to none.
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